O’Rourke hurdles into history books

DERVAL O’ROURKE dashed into the history books last night to win silver at the European Athletics Championships and assume her throne as the new queen of Irish sport.

Setting a new Irish 100-metre hurdle record in front of delighted friends and family, the Douglas athlete had to endure an agonising wait to hear if her time of 12.72 seconds was enough to clinch second spot.

Stewards eventually decided that nothing could separate her and German hurdler Kirsten Bolm, although they had initially awarded O’Rourke the silver medal outright.